Printer Friendly - 54 Below Seating

He guys, I can't seem to find a seating chart for 54 below, so for someone who has been there, how is the bar seating? Is it any good, or should one try to pay the extra amount for the "main dining" section?

Thanks!

54 Below SeatingPosted by Reginald Tresilian 2013-01-15 15:12:10

In my three visits, I've found the sightlines to be excellent from everywhere I've sat.

I sat with three friends at the bar once, and it was excellent, both sight- and sound-wise. The bar area is elevated, and the seats at the bar itself are high.

Plus there's the added advantage of getting served right away during the performance without having to wait for a waiter to come by.

If I were paying (I wasn't for the two times I was in the main dining section), I'd probably opt for the bar seats.

54 Below SeatingPosted by PalJoey 2013-01-15 15:40:21

The bar seating is a great way of spending a little less and the view is excellent. Otherwise, just get there early and smile and be nice and say that you want to sit close.

Personally, I prefer the "endcaps," the seat at the far end of the table that are perpendicular to the stage--or even the banquettes at the back. The room is intimate and the stage is elevated, so I prefer to be further back.

54 Below SeatingPosted by willep 2013-01-15 18:05:24

Great, thanks guys!

54 Below SeatingPosted by singingdude 2013-01-16 21:58:02

Does this venue have an open mic night or is it performers only? Looks like a very nice venue.

I've never been but it sounds like the equivalent to Birdland's Cast Party

54 Below SeatingPosted by stargazer2 2014-10-06 03:32:23

I will be going to 54 Below for the first time in November to see Jeremy Jordan, and was wondering how the "bar rail" seats are. I am travelling solo and it seemed like the least awkward choice. I'm not really much of a social butterfly. How's the view from the rail?

Side view can be okay depending on the act. I sometimes request one of them by table number.

54 Below SeatingPosted by inception 2014-10-06 14:25:04

What's the dress code. I'm hitting the Hustlaball after Kiss of the Spiderwoman on Sunday and I don't know if I will have enough time to go back to the hotel and change. Are assless chaps ok?

54 Below SeatingPosted by Rainbowhigh23 2014-10-06 14:56:51

The Skivvies are always assless so it should be okay.

54 Below SeatingPosted by inception 2014-10-06 16:12:16

^LOL Anyways no one has to worry, you won't get stuck sitting beside some big bear in chaps.

54 Below SeatingPosted by haterobics 2014-10-06 16:16:56

How can you be late to a dance?! If you go home and change, it will still be happening when you get there 10 minutes later, no?

54 Below SeatingPosted by hushpuppy 2014-10-06 19:15:47

I've been twice, both times solo, and both times seated with really nice people. On my way out last time, I thanked the maitre d' for putting me at such a fun table, and he told me that they try to match up people they think will enjoy each other. How they know that is beyond me, but somehow it worked. BTW, if you like steak tartare, theirs is top-notch.

54 Below SeatingPosted by PalJoey 2014-10-06 19:51:44

There's a little Dolly Levi in everyone who works there.

54 Below SeatingPosted by KathyNYC2 2014-10-06 21:46:03

^^^Dress code? It's pretty all over the place. You can wear what you want. I wouldn't wear shorts or ratty jeans, etc. but you will see everything from a not too fancy cocktail dress to nice jeans, suits or slacks & shirt... and everyone feels comfortable.

54 Below SeatingPosted by backwoodsbarbie 2016-04-12 13:58:03

I want to attend the Donna McKechnie concert through TDF but none of my friends are interested. Has anyone used TDF for 54 below? Do they assign you seats? I would like to guarantee a bar or rail seat so that I'm not alone at a table. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

54 Below SeatingPosted by Dancingthrulife2 2016-04-12 18:09:17

Just to make sure. When you buy a table seat, you buy the whole table, meaning you can take another person with you, right? I got a seat for Lea Salonga's performance on Friday and want to take my friend with me.

54 Below SeatingPosted by uncageg 2016-04-12 18:18:24

I. don't think it works that way Dancing. I think they just changed from the long tables to the rounds. What you pay is for your one seat. You can probably reserve 2 paid seats at a table. Not crazy about their new seating configuration.

54 Below SeatingPosted by Marianne2 2016-04-12 18:24:10

Yeah, each person has to buy a ticket. You will be seated with whoever if your whole party doesn't need an entire table.

54 Below SeatingPosted by wonkit 2016-04-12 20:26:42

I usually get the banquette seating ($$$$) and go by myself or with one other person. I have always found the people who share the table with me/us to be very pleasant. After all you are attending the same performance so you already have something in common with them.

54 Below SeatingPosted by chi-town_bwayfangirl 2016-08-10 14:08:38

I'm going to be in NYC in a couple weeks to see White Rabbit Red Rabbit and Spamilton. I'm also interested in seeing Broadway Goes to the Movies at 54 Below. They have a show where seating opens at 8:45 and show starts at 9:30. White Rabbit starts at 8 and is supposed to be 75 minutes. Anyone know if there's late seating at 54 Below and, if so, what's the best location to sit in if I know I'll be running a tad late?

Thanks!

54 Below SeatingPosted by jbird5 2016-08-10 14:50:42

I was at 54 Below for the Skivvies and they started late (supposedly held by the venue). I think you will be okay. I believe someone walked in late and was called out by the band.

54 Below SeatingPosted by playbill-love 2016-08-10 14:54:20

I would call the venue and let them know that you'll be running late. They'll be able to give you advice for your particular situation and make a note so they know you will be arriving late.

54 Below SeatingPosted by chi-town_bwayfangirl 2016-08-10 15:36:27

Thanks! I gave them a call and let them know the situation - they suggested a bar seat.

54 Below SeatingPosted by RussT2 2016-08-10 17:22:49

willep said: "He guys, I can't seem to find a seating chart for 54 below, so for someone who has been there, how is the bar seating? Is it any good, or should one try to pay the extra amount for the "main dining" section?Thanks!"

Tada! Seating chart link. Have fun. There are no bad seats at 54 BELOW.

I noticed they're really inconsistent with how they've done the seating designation and associated pricing. For example, if you look at audience right/stage left, those seats at the "north" end of the long table directly behind the purple Side View Seating tables should really be considered Side View and not Main Dining, since Main Dining costs more and your view is the same, if not worse than the Side View seats right up against the stage. Not to mention, some of those seats are facing the wrong way and you're just crowded for space if you try to turn your chair around. Depending on the act, the two-person booth on audience left/stage right should also be listed as Side View as, at that angle, you're pretty much obstructed by the piano.

Anyway, I love 54 Below, love their performers and their staff, but they've done some weird things with ticket pricing since Feinstein's took it over, where they'll increase prices of the same seats during the on-sale period without ever making that transparent. Like when a show is selling well, they'll just up the price in the middle of the on-sale period than the original advertised pricing. And that's just a shady business practice.